Flexible-rubber shoe



D. H. FINBERG Jan. 24, 1928.

FLEXIBLE? RUBB ER SHOE Filed July 22, 1926 YINVENTOR atented lien, Ed, 192.-

Fd-Vl'fi H. FINIBERG, F FBUUKLYN, NEW' YQHK, ASQIGNQR TO THE "HELLER BUFFER UUMPANY, @F -MEON, OHKU, A CORPQBATEON 0F traumas-alumna anon.

Application filed July 322, 1926. Serial No. mthllfidv This invention relates to footwear for men, children, and women and has particular reference to storm or rain proof shoes or shoe coverings, the subject matter of this application being an improvement over that shown in my co-pendingapplication filed DecemberlQth, 1925, Serial No. 76,362.

Among the objects of this present improvement is to perfect and simplify, the construction, making the rubber shoe of bet ter fitting and neuter appearing qualities than as heretofore proposed.

More specifically, the present improve- 'ment includes ire-enforcing means for the fly or front opening of the shoe to accommodate the ta stening' devices; to improve the toe tip construction; to improve the heel hole construction and binding, and to improve the lining elements which make for the easy;

slipping on or oil? of the. rubber shoe over the dress shoe, and yet without disturbing the flexibility of the main parts of the upper, whereby the same rubber shoe may be fitted readily to dress shoes of Several diderent sizes and widths.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the inven-. tion is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein,

still for the purpose of illustrating a' practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which Y Figure 1 is a side perspective showing the shoe in the form as when worn.

Fig. 2 is a front view, partly open and partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional detail of a last indicating the heel hole construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the inside construction of the'back of the upper. I

Fig. 6 is. a plan view of one of the fiat re -enforcement strips f Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional detail on line 7-7 of Fi 3. f

Fig. 8 is a fetail plan view of the sock lining. p

Fig. 9 is a detail showing how the heel portion is fitted to the heel of the dress shoe.

Referring "now more specifically to the drawings, the upper, as in the previous application above specified, is made of two substantially equal parts 10 and 19' united together along a vertical line 11 at the back and also along the sole at 12', the line of connection between the two parts being extended up over thetoe and thence u along the instep as indicated by the dotted line '13. At the rear end the line 12 terminates at a point corresponding to the breast or slightly back of the breast of the heel, the heel hole 14: being left open. .lhe upper sectionsare composed preferably of relatively thin pliable and elastic-material such as a good uality of sheet rubber, the same adapting t e' shoe'for application like a. glove over an ordinary dress shoe or slipper.

Asa lining for the sole portion of the shoe I provide what is termed a sock lining 15 approximating the length and width of the sole, the main portion of which lies substantially fiat within the shoe, but extending laterally from the sides of the mainportion are two lip members 16 which may be made integral with the main-portion 15, but for better fitting they are made as'separate elements and having overlapping enagagement with the part 15.. See Figs. '2' an Secured within the rear portion of the the upper leaving aclearance 18, and the lower end of the lining is flared laterally at 19 to provide a better re-enforcement for the counter portion of the construction, and

. it too is spaced from the next adjacent edge or openin 14 as at 20. These clearances 18 and a 0rd ample freedom of adjustment or spreading of the edge portions of the shoe, while the lining itself aifords suflicient strength for the purpose of drawing on the overs oec 1 y In practice these shoes are built over a last. *The sock lining and fabric re-enforce-. ment strip are applied first tothe sole and back portion of the last and secured' there temporarily to maintain them in proper position. Theupper sections 10 and 10". are

then put in place and fitted to the last and to each other preliminar to curing.

21 indicates a half so 0 applied over the the ball of the shoe is secured an outsole 22,

the edges of which extend upward somewhat from the floor line as shown at 28, this element extending from around the toe rearward and around the heel hole at 24. The parts 21 and 22 may be made of any suit able material, but preferably of flexible and elastic rubber stock. For the sake of neatness and attractiveness of appearance the upper and trimming members are preferably of different colors, but as to this I do not propose to be limited.

As indicated in Fig. 4 the last L is formed around the heel portion Z with a groove or channel into which the stock of the upper is forced, thereby distorting the stock somewhat into a reverse'form or position from that assumed whenthe shoe is worn. Any suitable re-enforc'ement for strengthening the heel hole in the finished article may be employed, but I show for this purpose a special binding strip 25 of rubber facing the edge portion of the upper as it lies within the groove in the last, and I also show a rubber cord or head 26 iorced finally into the groove, bearing at one side against the rubber stock aforesaid, and at another side against the portion 1 of the lost. This construction makes a smooth neat finish for the edge 14- ot the heel which, moreover, is of a flexible nature and calculated to fit snugly around the top portion of the dress shoe heel H in such a manner that the tighter up the shoe is drawn over the heel, the more'snugly it its around the heel, thereby reducing the possibility of rain, snow, or other moisture from reaching the dress shoe. See Fig. 9.

The top of the shoe is reentorced by an ornamental cult 27 of flexible rubber, and

- extending downward from the top to the dti hill

till

rear portion of the heel opening is a reenforcement strip 28 which covers the joint at 18 and presents a neat finish for the shoe.

Any suitable fastening means may be provided tor the fly or front of the shoe. In the preferred form and as now practised by me, I provide a pair of fabric strips 29 which, though they are flexible, are practically non-elastic. Cine of these strips is secured along the inside surface of the fly. while the other is secured along the inner surface of an outside tongue or reinforcement strip 30 of rubber. This facing member 30 overlaps the joint 13 along the front of the shoe all the way down to and under the toe, and is vulcanized to the side (it. the fly opposite the portion that carries the in side strip 29. Fasteners such as head and socket snap buttons 31 are secured to and through the re'enforcement strips 29 and rubber portions to which they are secured and operate in the usual way. Because cit the curvature of the instep of the shoe the strips 29 are preferably formed arcuate and the lower end of each is given a sharp turn at 29 where it crosses the seam. The lower end of the tongue 30 may constitute the toe piece, or the toe piece 30 may be made separate if desired from the tongue. As shown I prefer that the tongue be extended as an integral member down and around the toe where it is overlapped by the toe portion of the outsole 22. The tongue or facing strip 30 preferably overlaps the ends of the cuff member 27 as they come around and meet at the center line of the shoe upper. By extending the cuff in this manner the elastic top portion of the shoe is suitably re-enforced, preventing any possibility of tearing near where it is re-en'forced by the non-elastic fabric.

I claim:

1. The herein described flexible rubber shoe whose upper is flexible and elastic and form-fitting, parts of the upper being extended downward forming a part of the sole, the upper being split from the top downward toward the toe, the edges hounding the split lying in abutting relation to each other, a re-entorcement facing tongue of flexible elastic material secured along one edge on the outside of the upper at one side of the split and extending thence across the edge abutting against the same, a flexible reentorcing strip secured to the inner face of the tree portion of said tongue and fasten- 1ng means co-operating with the free edge of the tongue and the part overhipped thereby.

2. it flexible rubber shoe built of form fitting stock, the upper being provided with a slitted opening, fastening means cooperating with the opening, and lining means including a non-elastic flexible strip 0t mate rial secured along the inner surface oi. the back of the upper, and, a sock lining conforming to the sole portion of the shoe and secured thereto and having crescent shaped lips on opposite sides of the ball portion thereoi".

' 3; 'lhe herein described rubber shoe havmg an open fly front, the edges ot the upper at the fly abutting against each other, a. re-

enforcement strip of non-elastic material sccured along one edge oil the fly and having its lower end extending laterally across the line oi connce'rtion between the two parts: of the upper, a one piece facing tongue carried by the other portion of the upper and extending thence laterally across the portion having the non plastic re-entorcement:

l. ll shoe as set forth in claim 3 in which a second non-clastic re-enlorcement strip is secured aloi the one piece timing tongue which overlaps the that mentioned rc-entorcenicnt strip, fastening means being operative in conjunc he inner tare of that part of llti ea ers tion with said two non-elastic rte-enforcement strips 5. The herein described shoe composed chiefly of flexible elastic rubber having an open front constituting a fly, the edges of the fly being faced with non-elastic reentorcem'ent means,a finishing cud extending circumter-entially of the top of the shoe and having its ends overlapping the upper ends of the re-entorcernent means aforesaid, and an outside facing stripextending vertically over the fly opening and overlapping the ends of the end.

6. The herein described overshoe whose upper is flexible and elastic and form fitting, said upper comprising u per portions seamed together along the me ian line of the toe and being split downward from the top to the instep where said split merges in the seam, a reenforcing facing tongue of flexible material secured along one edge on the outside of the upper at. one side of the slit and extending across the slit to overlie the other edge, said facing tongue being extended downward over the toe and being secured thereto in overlying relation to said seam to reentorce the same.

7. The herein described flexible rubber shoe having an upper which is flexible and elastic and form fitting, said upper being split from the top downward towards the toe, the edges defining the split lying when closed in abutting relation, a reenforcing tongue of flexible elastic material secured along one edge of one side of the upper at one side of the split and extending thence across the split, a flexible non-elastic reenforcing strip secured to the lnner face of the projecting portion of the tongue and adapted to overlie the edge portion of the upper on the opposite s1de of said split, a similar nonelastic reenforcing strip secured to the face of said edge portion, and cooperating tastextending downward into proximity to the toe with the edges of the split adapted to lie in abutting relation when the front is closed, an insole overlying said sole overlapping portions, a one piece facing tongue of flexible elastic material secured to one edge of the upper at one side of said divided front and extending laterally across the line of division. said facing tongue being extended over the toe and under the sole overlapping portions at the front, an ontsole having an upturned edge overlapping the lower side portionsot the upper and the lower end of the facing tongue at the toe, flexible inelastic reenforcing strips carried by the tree portion of the facing tongue and the edge of the upper which said tongue overlies, and cooperating fastening means carried by said reenforced upper edge and the reenforccd overlying portion of the facing tongue.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DAVID H. FINBERG. 

